Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 6 Entries. Sunday, May 4 View Page Day ??? Not sure of the date I started but its been about 3 months since I placed 6 altantic giant pumpkin seeds into dixie cups and started them indoors. They were fast growers. They are in a garden bed next to tomato, corn, pepper, and mint. Just the other day I was looking at the growth closly and I saw about 15 buds! One is in full bloom. Not sure what to do about pollinating but have asked others and waiting on response. Tuesday, May 6 View Page Got advise on a few things 1. In Southern AZ- need to create a screen around vine. 2. DO NOT PLANT IN VEGETABLE GARDEN- will choke out vegetables 3. Get a mist system- need to mist durring the hottest part of day when temps are above 95 4. Lots and lots of organic matter- this will help keep ground from drying up as quickly. 5. Water every day- this has seemed to speed up the growth. Also I have seen more buds bloom( although male) 1st buds usually male. 6. Direction of vine to grow- When 1st growing, to plant in direction you want, it is the oppisite of the first leaf is the way the vine will grow. Tuesday, May 6 View Page Just installed a screen cover for the patch. On all future areas I will install a screen. Also will turn on the soaker hose for 30 minutes durring the hottest part of the day!! Tuesday, May 6 View Page Well I installed the new Screens for the vine and it is raining and the wind is 20mph. I hope it holds up. I think it will.....stilled a little worried. Thursday, May 8 View Page Soon I will have pictures. Today I have seen the true light or not. J/k My new sun screen held up pretty good under the wind and rain storm. Now that I have the screen up and I am misting durring the day I can see even growth durring the day time. So really im starting to see that its growing about 5 inches a day. I think the small bugs in my garden are fly larva. I was told that the heat brings them up out of the ground and they'll be gone soon. Till next time... Wednesday, May 14 View Page I transplanted my two big max outside last night. I have also already put up a westernly screen to block the afternoon sun. Oh also about two days ago I saw my first female on the Dills atlantic. Although the females seems to be growing and the vine continues to grow it sems the leafs are wilting just at that area. I also located my big max next to the house has a small female. I will watch them close and look at night to seen when they will bloom. This year I will be polinating with a painters brush.